Chhattisgarh shows growth in its Medical & Healthcare sectors

In 2003, Chhattisgarh had a serious crisis on its hand. After having just started out as a newly formed state in 2000, the infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) stood at a seriously worrisome statistic: 70 deaths per 1000 live births and 365 deaths per 1 lakh deliveries!

Basic healthcare provisions weren’t available across most districts in the state.
Another grave concern was the rejection of modern healthcare practices by the tribal populace, who continued to rely on their ancient traditions and practices for diseases and pregnancies, resulting in an increasing number of fatalities that could have been prevented with timely intervention.

15 years down the line, there has been significant, and in many cases absolutely remarkable, progress in Chhattisgarh. For example, there has been 50 per cent drop in mother-child mortalities by 2017!

Chhattisgarh’s Mitanin programme, is believed to be one of the most successful initiatives by the healthcare department by far, especially in overcoming casualties arising from unscientific practices and self-medication in tribal regions.

This is just an example, one of many, how the state was and continues to be on the cutting edge of healthcare policy in India.

Some other innovative healthcare schemes unfurled in Chhattisgarh include the corneal blindness free scheme, Chirayu Yojana, Kayakalp Yojana, Health Helpline, Mahtari Express, Muktanjali Sewa, and last but not the least, Janm Sahyogischeme.

Today, the state has over 793 primary health centres and 5200 sub-health centres, all of which are due to be transformed into health and wellness centres by 2025, in adherence to PM Modi’s ambitious healthcare vision, Ayushmaan Bharat for the country.

While 650 of these are already operational as HWCs, the department’s goal is to hit 800 by the end of this year.